Strange tyre wear pattern...

[DanAbnormal]

Noticed my front tyre is very worn on the right hand side but not the left. It's a BT020 tyre and about 2mm from the center groove has gone bald but the other side has plenty of tread left. I do about 70 miles per day and have done 9'000 miles now. Could my forks be out of alignment? It doesn't feel off but I've been riding the bike for 6 months so I might have gotten used to it.

Dan

[mysteryjimbo]

You do too many right hand corners and islands.... :lol:

Sorry, i'm not helping am i?

[DanAbnormal]

You do too many right hand corners and islands.... :lol:

Sorry, i'm not helping am i?

Yeah cheers!

Well I thought that at first but it is literally just a few mm from the centre groove.

[Biker Biggles]

That's normal as we drive on the left.Road camber wears that side of the tyre slightly more,and we tend to be more enthusiastic on right hand bends like roundabouts. :) BTW it needs changing as it will have naff all grip left.

[chazzyb]

That's normal as we drive on the left.Road camber wears that side of the tyre slightly more,and we tend to be more enthusiastic on right hand bends like roundabouts. :) BTW it needs changing as it will have naff all grip left.

I agree about the wear, but I really do wonder just how much camber contributes. Camber isn't generally very great out our. But having said that, if you're positioning for view on bends, you'll be riding where the camber's greatest on RH and least on LH bends. I've also read a technical-ish article that suggests that the distance travelled through right-hand bends is much greather than for left-handers. Countries where they ride on the right experience wear on the left of the front tyre instead. I wonder if the subconcious counter-steering contributes too?

I can see I'll awake all night pondering this one again. :wink:

[oldjack]

They all do that sir ! I've always blamed roundabouts, never thought about the camber effect before, you may have something there Biker Biggles.

[Beenz]

9K on a front tyre :shock: I'd be luck to get 7K from mine. Thats a bit of a difference though. If the forks are out, the bike will pull to one side.

[RandyO]

it's cause you blokes ride on the left side of the road instead of the right

here in america where we ride on the right side of the road, our tires were on te left.

it's cause on outside radius of corners you travel further ans get more lean time on outside radii

http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/tirewear/

[Biker Biggles]

Several different theories as to why this happens,but all agree it does.Either way you are well overdue a new tyre. :(

[socommk23]

the only reason i ever change the front tyre is cos of this! its cos the right had bends outnumber the left!

[DanAbnormal]

Thanks all. The guy who changed the tyre also said it's due to camber/roundabouts etc. I've just never noticed it on other bikes. Anyway, got a shiny new front tyre (BT020) for £98 fitted. Not bad seeing as he came to me in his mobile van. Still, 9k is a good amount of miles for that price although the previous was a BT56 which are solid!

[RandyO]

Thanks all. The guy who changed the tyre also said it's due to camber/roundabouts etc. I've just never noticed it on other bikes. Anyway, got a shiny new front tyre (BT020) for £98 fitted. Not bad seeing as he came to me in his mobile van. Still, 9k is a good amount of miles for that price although the previous was a BT56 which are solid!


it's definatly not due to road camber , the road would have to be 2-3 feet lower on one side to have the camber to create wear in that position

as the link I posted tells, it's simply right hand turns are longer than left hand turns when you ride on the left side of the road

[I'm_a_Newbie]

Hi All.

You have missed one possibility, your rear could be out of alignment. When this happens you compensate with the the front leading to uneven wear.

Kind regards
Tim.

[kwak zzr]

mate of mine had this happen to his zx6r and his forks were not adjusted equally

[RandyO]

Hi All.

You have missed one possibility, your rear could be out of alignment. When this happens you compensate with the the front leading to uneven wear.

Kind regards
Tim.

nothing is out of alignment , a motorcycle is a single track vehicle, do not compare wear patterns to 4 wheel vehicles

if your tire doesn't wear unevenly, something is wrong

[muffles]

nothing is out of alignment , a motorcycle is a single track vehicle, do not compare wear patterns to 4 wheel vehicles

but isn't this:


| -- front wheel


/ -- rear wheel


out of alignment? I'm not saying it's the same as a car's problems with alignment but surely that would pull the bike to the side and the front will attempt to pull it back in?

[RandyO]

nothing is out of alignment , a motorcycle is a single track vehicle, do not compare wear patterns to 4 wheel vehicles

but isn't this:


| -- front wheel


/ -- rear wheel


out of alignment? I'm not saying it's the same as a car's problems with alignment but surely that would pull the bike to the side and the front will attempt to pull it back in?

single track vehicles wear tires on edges cause they lean to steer, more wear on one side means you spent more time leaned to that side

if your rear tire is out of alignment it will make is wear faster, but not different pattern than normal

[kwak zzr]

mate of mine had this happen to his zx6r and his forks were not adjusted equally

this tyre was not a perfect curve it was like an egg.